Utter devastation. None of us can erase the images we saw on television caused by the 2004 indian ocean tsunami. But as we watched from afar, most Americans were secure in the belief that they are immune to the risks of tsunamis. Unfortunately, however, that is foolish thinking. The reality is that tsunamis are projected to hit the U.S. at some point, and the time to prepare is now. Get the facts about these deadly “waves.”

The cause of tsunami

Translated from Japanese, tsunami actually means “harbor wave.” The term originates from Japanese fishermen who would travel back to shore from days at sea, only to find devastation caused by these massive ocean surges, which are usually not visible from the ocean. They have often been misnamed “tidal waves” because of the way they mimic a massive tide coming in and out  violently. In actuality, however, they are not affected by tidal changes, but rather are a product of submarine or underwater seismic activities commencing from ocean-floor earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a federal agency that monitors the oceans, atmosphere, weather and climate changes subduction earthquakes are the most common causes of tsunamis and occur when tectonic plates collide. That force pushes the ocean to move, forming these enormous, powerful waves. The last two massive tsunamis, the 2004 Indian Ocean disaster and the 2011 Japanese tragedy, were both generated by these types of earthquakes. The fault lines and movement of tectonic plates under the Pacific and Indian Oceans are among the most active in the world, and because of this, we often hear the term “ring of fire” to describe all the seismic commotion.

How much time do you have before a tsunami ?

Following an earthquake, the timeline varies on how soon a tsunami will hit, mostly depending on how far into the ocean the event that caused it was. But no matter what, you won’t have long to prepare. The NOAA simulations show that when a 9.0 earthquake hit the United States coast in 1900, the initial tsunami wave followed just 20 to 30 minutes later, with waves as high as 30 feet.

A tsunami is due: effects of tsunami

As a society, we often underestimate the power of water and are generally shocked by the damage it causes. Dr. Dan Cox, Professor of Ocean and Coastal Engineering at Oregon State University and a scientist for the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory, suggests that a tsunami hitting the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which runs from Vancouver, Canada to Northern California, could wreak havoc on the Pacific Northwest. In fact, previous tsunamis have already hit this area, and the next one can’t be far behind.

“The research done by Brian Atwater about the 1700s Cascadia earthquake and tsunami in the Pacific Northwest shows us that this could happen again and that the cycle, which comes … Read the rest

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